Popular luminous intensity conversions
About luminous intensity units
Luminous intensity is light emitted in a particular direction, measured in candelas — one of the seven SI base units. LED datasheets often state intensity in millicandelas. Historical units (Hefner candle, international candle) are approximate.
Luminous Intensity unit reference
| Unit | Symbol | Value in cd | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candela | cd | 1 cd | SI |
| Millicandela | mcd | 0.001 cd | SI |
| Kilocandela | kcd | 1,000 cd | SI |
| Candlepower (modern) | cp | 1 cd | Other |
| Hefner candle | HK | 0.903 cd | Other |
| International candle | IC | 1.019 cd | Other |
Frequently asked questions
What is the SI unit of luminous intensity?
This converter uses the candela (cd) as its reference unit; every other unit is defined relative to it.
How many luminous intensity units can I convert?
6 units are supported here, across SI, Other systems. Every pair can be converted in both directions.
Does this luminous intensity converter work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, every calculation runs locally in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.